Snow conditions 28.2.2022

General avalanche danger level - Monday, 28.2.2022
The danger is level 2 on the European 5-level scale - MODERATE.
Main problem: weak layers, wind slab
Danger pattern: Cold weather, unbonded fresh snow with wind
Danger pattern: Cooling after warm weather / warming after cold

Risk assessment
Avalanche danger is above approximately 1700 m MODERATE, level 2, and lower down LOW, level 1. Dangerous spots with fresh wind slab are mainly on southern and western slopes. Caution especially in gullies where larger amounts of wind-blown snow can accumulate and at transitions from thicker to thinner snow cover. Small to medium-sized avalanches can be triggered at rare spots with minor load, but mostly require a large load. Wind-exposed locations are heavily scoured, with risk of slipping there.

Snow conditions
At the end of the week, it was cold and very windy in the mountains, with snow flags appearing. On Friday, with the deterioration, mostly 5 to max 20 cm of dry and very light snow fell, which the strengthened northeast wind transported, building new drifts, cornices and slabs. The zero isotherm was during the day at around 1000 m elevation. Since the air was dry, the snowpack above this elevation did not transform. The snowpack is heavily wind-affected, with wind effects increasing with elevation. Very wind-exposed locations are scoured almost to the bare ground and also icy. In sheltered spots, there is still up to 20 cm of dry snow on a hard base.

Forecast weather development
Today it will be mostly clear at first, from mid-morning changeable cloudy, some summits in fog. Only in the western part of the Julian Alps it will remain mostly sunny. Moderate wind will blow, in the high mountains also strong north to northeast wind. The wind will strengthen in the afternoon. Temperature at 1500 m from -10 to -6, at 2500 m around -13 °C. It will cool slightly more during the day. On Tuesday it will be mostly clear, some clouds may gather especially on the slopes of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and in the hills of Notranjska and Kočevje. Weak to moderate northeast wind will blow, weakening in the afternoon. Temperature at 1500 m early afternoon around -6, at 2500 m around -9 °C. Freezing level at around 1000 m elevation. On Wednesday clear at first, during the day some high clouds from the west. Mostly weak north wind. Noticeably warmer. Temperature at 1500 m midday from -3 to 1, at 2500 m around -6 °C.

Trend in snow conditions
Snow conditions will not change much today and tomorrow due to cold weather. The wind will be somewhat weaker than at the end of the week, but still transport snow in places and deposit it on southern and western slopes. On Wednesday, the influence of dry warming will already be felt on sun-exposed spots, the surface will crust slightly during the day and freeze at night. Avalanche danger will remain MODERATE, level 2 above around 1700 m until mid-week, and LOW, level 1 lower down. Greater caution needed especially in areas with wind slab. Risk of slipping will still be considerable. Next avalanche bulletin on Wednesday, 2.3.2022.

Next issue: Wednesday, 2.3.2022

Source: ARSO